Shoe construction

ABSTRACT

A non-welted shoe is comprised primarily of a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer sole covering with a middle sole and inner sole. The upper and sole coverings are joined together to form a shoe body by at least one row of decorative and interlocking stitching adjacent the sole line. The middle sole and inner sole are placed in the formed shoe body. While the shoe body is in a mulled or moistened condition it is lasted to size and the upper covering in the heel area is stitched together along a seam line.

O United States Patent [191 Siskin Sept. 3, 1974 SHOE CONSTRUCTION 2,758,397 8/1956 Riggs 36/76 R [75] Inventor: Abe Siskin, Padova, Italy Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson [73] Assigneez Geller Shoes, Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1973 57 CT PP 363,396 A non-welted shoe is comprised primarily of a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer [52] Us. CL 36/25 R 36/76 R 12/142 R sole covering with a middle sole and inner sole. The 511 rm. Cl. A43 b 13/42 :A43d 9/00 "PP6r and vering5 are Fined mgether [58] Field of Search 12/142 36/55 R 76 R shoe body by at least one row of decorative and inter- 36/36 R locking stitching adjacent the sole line. The middle sole and inner sole are placed in the formed shoe [56] References Cited body. While the shoe body is in a mulled or moistened UNITED STATES PATENTS condition it is lasted to size and the upper covering in the heel area is stitched together along a seam line. 2,393,824 1/1946 Schroeder 36/76 R 2,696,683 12/1954 Ciaio 36/76 R 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Pmmsm 1 3,8327% sum 20! 2 SHOE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shoes and a method of shoe manufacture; and more particularly, to shoes for women which may be both comfortable, esthetically attractive and economical to manufacture.

Often times in constructing shoes which are comfortable to wear, it is necessary to make the shoes either bulky or not very fashionable or attractive in appearance. On the other hand, attractive shoes often are not comfortable or economically manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Shoes embodying the present invention are not only comfortable to wear but they are also capable of being made in attractive and fashionable designs. In addition, the method of manufacturing these shoes is one which leads to economy in construction.

The shoe of the present invention is of the nonwelted kind. By this is meant that there is no welting of leather or similar material about the sole line where the sole of the shoe is joined to the upper. Instead, in this invention an outer upper covering and an outer sole covering are each preformed. Thereafter, a shoe body may be made from these two preformed coverings by joining them together near the sole line by a decorative stitch. This method permits the upper and sole coverings each to be made from different colored material and the stitching to be made of still a third color. As a result, there is an attractive color contrast between these three elements.

By making the coverings from flexible material, such as leather or a suitable plastic or other substitute, it is assured that the shoe body formed from the coverings will be a flexible one. Inasmuch as the body is flexible it should afford comfort to the wearer. However, it is also necessary that the wearer have an adequate support, particularly for women where an elevated heel of some type is attached to the shoe body. This support is obtained by using a middle sole which includes a toe portion, an intermediate flex portion and at the arch and heel region a laminate consisting of a substantially inflexible member, a rigid metal shank and an underlayer. This middle sole permits the shoe to be sufficiently rigid for supporting the arch and at the same time flexible enough to permit it to be comfortable for walking purposes.

Of course, the concept of forming the shoe from two principal component covering pieces admits to quick and easy manufacture both in the shoe construction and its method of being made.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe construction and method which are capable of efficient and economic manufacture, yet the finished shoe is attractive and comfortable for the user.

These and other objects of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art from a description of the illustrated specific embodiment of the shoe and its method of manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of a completed shoe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional longitudinal side view of the shoe of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the various principal components of the shoe of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular, a shoe 10in accordance with the present invention is shown. The shoe 10 includes a preformed outer upper covering 12 and a preformed lower outer covering 14. It further includes a middle sole 16, an inner sole 18 and a heel 20. A wear pad 22 may be applied to the underside of the sole covering, particularly as shown in FIG. 2.

The upper outer covering is preferably made from a single piece of material such as leather. However, it is to be understood that if desired, it may be made from more than a single piece of material but better practice would have it made into a single integrated unit before being joined to the outer sole covering 14. The outer sole covering 14 is also preferably made from a single piece of material and will normally be flexible and not stiff. Being made of flexible material it is easily joined to the upper covering by sewing and gluing. The use of sewing is preferred since it gives not only a sure bold but also provides means for a decorative stitch.

In order to give support to the combined coverings l2 and 14 which form a shoe body, the middle sole 16 is preferably made of a composite construction giving both comfort and support to the wearer. The middle sole includes a toe portion 24 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is made of resilient leather or similar material, an intermediate or flex portion 26 and a substantially inflexible support laminate 28. The support laminate 28 includes a stiff or substantially inflexible upper member 30, a rigid metal shank 32 and an underlayer 34. The support laminate 28 gives some strength to the shoe region and it particularly gives support at the arch of the wearer. The flex portion 26 permits the shoe to bend at the area where the arch and the sole meet, thus not reducing the flexibility inherent in the outer sole covering 14.

Along the sole line 35 where the upper and sole coverings are joined, two rows of interlocking decorative stitching 36 and 38 are applied. These rows of stitching are preferably applied when the coverings 12 and 14 are joined together.

In manufacturing the shoe, the coverings l2 and 14 are first joined together along the sole line 35 by the stitching 36 and 38. The shoe at that point is in a mulled or moistened condition. By this is meant the shoe, particularly when it is made of leather, is damp but is not wet. This permits the shoe to be properly shaped and lasted. In sizing and lasting the shoe, the middle sole is placed into the formed body. After the shoe body is properly sized and shaped, the unattached portions of the upper covering in the heel area are joined together by back stitching 40. At this point the shoe body is complete and then it is dried sufficiently to retain its size and shape.

A heel 20 is attached to the body.

For comfort, foam padding 42 may be included in the toe portion of the shoe and foam padding 44 may be inserted between the inner sole and the middle sole.

The heel 20 is held in place by nails 46 which are driven through the middle sole 16. Since the outer sole covering is made of flexible material and the shoe is non-welted, advantageously a tab portion 48 which extends from the outer sole covering is inserted between the heel and the middle sole permitting the nails 46 to be driven through this tab 48 as well as through the middle sole. As a result, the entire shoe is joined together to act as a single unit.

The objects of the present invention as set forth hereinbefore and others which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be accomplished by the illustrated embodiment of the shoe construction and its method of manufacture.

What is claimed is:

1. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer sole covering having forward, instep and heel portions; said coverings being formed of flexible materials; said heel portion of the outer sole covering being flat and said forward portion thereof having a flat sole section and an integral upturned peripheral flange terminating above the level of said flat sole section and joined to said upper covering by at least one row of decorative and interlocking stitching; and a middle sole superimposed on said outer sole having toe and rigid support portions and an intermediate flex portion; said intermediate flex portion of said middle sole being located adjacent the rear of said flat sole section between said toe and rigid support portions; said rigid support portion of the middle sole including a laminate consisting of an upper member, a rigid shank extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent said intermediate flex portion and spaced rearwardly of the flat sole section, and an underlayer located between the shank and the outer sole; and an inner sole placed over the middle sole.

2. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral flange is tapered from said flat sole section to said flat heel portion adjacent the instep portion of said outer sole covering.

3. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper member of said laminate is substantially inflexible.

4. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe further includes a raised heel attached to the middle sole, and the flat heel portion of said outer sole covering comprises a tab portion which extends between the heel and the middle sole.

5. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe further includes a wear pad attached to the outer sole covering within the confines of said flat sole section to expose the flange of said flat sole section.

6. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 which includes two rows of decorative stitching.

7. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer sole covering having forward, instep and heel portions; said coverings being formed of flexible materials; said heel portion of the outer sole covering being flat and said forward portion thereof having a flat sole section and an integral upturned peripheral flange terminating above the level of said flat sole section and joined to said upper covering by at least one row of decorative and interlocking stitching; and a composite interior sole superimposed on said outer sole having toe and rigid support portions and an intermediate flex portion; said intermediate flex portion of said composite interior sole being located adjacent the rear of said flat sole section, between said toe and rigid support portions; said rigid support portion of the composite interior sole including a laminate consisting of an upper member, a rigid shank extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent said intermediate flex portion and spaced rearwardly of the flat sole section, and an underlayer located between the shank and the outer sole.

8. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and an outer sole covering; said coverings being formed of flexible materials and said outer sole covering being preformed as a flat element having forward, instep and heel portions; said outer sole covering being joined to the upper covering by at least one row of decorative stitching, said forward portion of said outer sole including a flat sole section and an integral peripheral flange extending upwardly from said flat sole and-formed from said flat outer sole element when joined to said upper covering; said stitching being located along said flange; said heel portion of said outer sole covering being flat in the completed shoe and said flange tapering from said flat sole section to the flat heel portion adjacent the instep portion of the outer sole covering; and a composite interior sole superimposed on said outer sole and including a rigid support portion extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent to and spaced rearwardly of said flat sole section. 

1. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer sole covering having forward, instep and heel portions; said coverings being formed of flexible materials; said heel portion of the outer sole covering being flat and said forward portion thereof having a flat sole section and an integral upturned peripheral flange terminating above the level of said flat sole section and joined to said upper covering by at least one row of decorative and interlocking stitching; and a middle sole superimposed on said outer sole having toe and rigid support portions and an intermediate flex portion; said intermediate flex portion of said middle sole being located adjacent the rear of said flat sole section between said toe and rigid support portions; said rigid support portion of the middle sole including a laminate consisting of an upper member, a rigid shank extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent said intermediate flex portion and spaced rearwardly of the flat sole section, and an underlayer located between the shank and the outer sole; and an inner sole placed over the middle sole.
 2. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral flange is tapered from said flat sole section to said flat heel portion adjacent the instep portion of said outer sole covering.
 3. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper member of said laminate is substantially inflexible.
 4. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe further includes a raised heel attached to the middle sole, and the flat heel portion of said outer sole covering comprises a tab portion which extends between the heel and the middle sole.
 5. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe further includes a wear pad attached to the outer sole covering within the confines of said flat sole section to expose the flange of said flat sole section.
 6. A non-welted shoe as defined in claim 1 which includes two rows of decorative stitching.
 7. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and a preformed outer sole covering having forward, instep and heel portions; said coverings being formed of flexible materials; said heel portion of the outer sole covering being flat and said forward portion thereof having a flat sole section and an integral upturned peripheral flange terminating above the level of said flat sole section and joined to said upper covering by at least one row of decorative and interlocking stitching; and a composite interior sole superimposed on said outer sole having toe and rigid support portions and an intermediate flex portion; said intermediate flex portion of said composite interior sole being located adjacent the rear of said flat sole section, between said toe and rigid support portions; said rigid support portion of the composite interior sole including a laminate consisting of an upper member, a rigid shank extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent said intermediate flex portion and spaced rearwardly of the flat sole section, and an underlayer located between the shank and the outer sole.
 8. A non-welted shoe comprising a preformed outer upper covering and an outer sole covering; said coverings being formed of flexible materials and said outer sole covering being preformed as a flat element having forward, instep and heel portions; said outer sole covering being joined to the upper covering by at least one row of decorative stitching, said forward portion of said outer sole including a flat sole section and an integral peripheral flange extending upwardly from said flat sole and formed from said flat outer sole element when joined to said upper covering; said stitching being located along said flange; said heel portion of said outer sole covering being flat in the completed shoe and said flange tapering from said flat sole section to the flat heel portion adjacent the instep portion of the outer sole covering; and a composite interiOr sole superimposed on said outer sole and including a rigid support portion extending from adjacent the heel of the shoe to a position adjacent to and spaced rearwardly of said flat sole section. 